December 26, 2023

 

UK cattle herd at 3.24 million head according to June census

 

 

The UK cattle breeding herd, both dairy and beef, was reported at 3.24 million head based on a June 2023 census.

 

The number was 1.9% down on the same point the previous year. The suckler herd shrank 3.8% to 1.4 million head, while the dairy herd was stable, at 1.8 million head.

 

Despite higher beef prices, inflationary pressure on costs, together with reducing farm support, is likely to cause beef cow numbers to continue falling, according to Andersons consultants Charlotte Dun and Ben Burton.

 

With regard to the dairy herd, low milk prices in the year ahead are likely to put pressure on cow numbers in the short term, with rising milk yields keeping the pressure on in the longer term. This could mean the dairy herd continues its decline, albeit at a slower rate than that of the suckler herd.

 

Despite the reductions in the breeding herd, UK beef production has remained relatively stable as the use of sexed semen in the dairy herd means many more beef calves are being born from dairy dams.

 

In addition, milk buyer policies preventing the euthanising of dairy bull calves has meant more dairy bulls being reared and entering the beef supply chain.

 

GB deadweight cattle prices reached record levels in May and June this year at more than 490p/kg and, after slipping back, stepped up again to about 480p/kg, keeping 2023 well above historic averages.

 

With cost-of-production rises and falling farm support, producers will hope these prices are the new normal.

 

More initiatives are appearing and are aimed at securing supplies of beef-cross calves from the dairy herd. With the large-scale use of artificial insemination in the dairy herd, compared with predominantly natural service in the suckler sector, this can result in a more consistent product, faster genetic improvement in areas such as feed conversion and daily liveweight gain, and reduced carbon emissions.

 

Looking ahead in the short term to 2024, the main headwinds appear to be continued weaker domestic demand due to the rising costs of living.

 

- Farmers Weekly